If some of the Bruins’ better offensive talents didn’t get the wake-up, now’s as good a time as any to shift out of regular-season gear and play as though the season is on the the line.

In Toronto’s Game 2 win Saturday night, coach Randy Carlyle and star forward Phil Kessel got the memo. Sure, Joffrey Lupul scored twice and James van Riemsdyk scored a highlight-reel goal to remember. But it was Kessel’s slump-buster that was worthy of a little extra press, as he hadn’t scored an even-strength goal against the Bruins in 23 games before he cashed in on a third-period breakaway. He was aided by Carlyle’s decision to juggle his forward lines and spot in Kessel several times over the game on other units.

So now, as I wrote for CBSBoston.com, we officially have a series. Kessel’s on the board, and it’s time for the likes of Tyler Seguin, Brad Marchand and Jaromir Jagr to join him in time for Game 3 Monday now that this series is tied 1-1. Seguin fired eight shots on net, but only a couple were from prime scoring areas. Marchand landed four shots on James Reimer. Jagr landed just two shots and was a minus-2. The Bruins’ offense, as was its nature in the regular season, made life easier on Reimer and the Maple Leafs defense, and couldn’t finish when there was an opening.

So while the Bruins’ defense was letting the Maple Leafs break out like a T barreling out of North Station, the Bruins were ineffective doing the same against Toronto. And now we have a best-of-five. And now we again don’t know what to expect out of the Bruins one night to the next.

The biggest problem is that the Julien seems so preoccupied with getting Chara out against Kessel, the game is almost secondary. Me thinks he should just make sure that at least Sidenberg or Chara or Boychuk is out when Kessel is. I know he got behind Sidenberg for the goal, but everyone has a gaffe once in awhile. If so concerned about a matchup then put his best defensive winger out against him. Suddenly Kessel has become bigger than Lafluer, Bossy, or Hull. I don’t see him as being that kind of player.
Someone has to notify Horton that’s okay to body check again. I was glad to see Peverly in and Daugavins out, but both of them have 0 hits in two games. We need more than one winger, Lucic, throwing his weight around. Get Caron and Barkowski both back up from Providence!

I think it’s premature to declare Kessel “got the memo”. He took a chance on a fast break and it worked. What else did he do? The Bruins, on the other hand, forgot to set the alarm clock. They were out hit, out hustled, and looked slow. Jagr was awful. Put Soderberg back on the third line to try to wake it up. It’s been terrible so far. Getting Ference back should help the defense.